Steaming and pressing flatiron



ay 20, 1952 H, GQRDON 2,597,314

STEAMING AND PRESSING FLATIRON Filed May 29, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 A Z72l Patented May 20, 1952 y UNITED 'STATES ATENT osFlcE My inventionrelates to steaming and pressing atirons of the type adapted for use bytailors and in pressing establishments as distinguished from thedomestic atiron.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a steaming and pressingflatiron which is adapted for flexible connection to a remote source ofsteam to receive steam therefrom while in use, and so that such steamcan be discharged directly onto a fabric being ironed, and which hastherein an electrical heating element so associated with the course oftravel of the steam through the flatiron as to superheat the steam intransit, thus permitting the application of such superheated steam to afabric in the steaming and pressing thereof.

A number of advantages stem from the use of superheated steam in thesteaming and pressing of fabrics as against the use of steam at ordinarytemperatures. It is relatively dry, and, therefore, does notunnecessarily dampen the cloth or other fabric being ironed beyond whatis actually required to effect thorough pressing thereof. Further, itpermits a fabric to be pressed more rapidly than heretofore, andpractically no moisture is left in the fabric. Particularly in the caseof clothing is the garment left dry and ready for wear, and withoutlosing the creases pressed therein as is the case with a damp pressedgarment.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a atiron of thecharacter above described which embodies an upper body and a lower body,the latter having an apertured sole plate from which the superheatedsteam is discharged onto the fabric being ironed. In the upper body iscontained a steam chamber for receiving the steam from the source. and apassage leading from this chamber to the bottom of the body fordischarging the steam from the apertures in the sole i plate. Theelectrical heating element is also carried by the upper body and ispositioned about a passage and beneath the steam chamber to effect theafore described superheating of the steam traversing the two.

To avoid scorching or burning of any fabric being ironed resultant ofinadvertently leaving the flat iron on the fabric without disrupting thesupply of current to the electrical heating element, my flat iron isconstructed to operate in the manner of the at iron disclosed in mycopending, now abandoned application No. 752,105, led June 3, 1947. Thatis to say, the upper body of my present fiat iron is vertically movableto occupy lowered and elevated positions therein.

In the lowered position the electrical heating element is contiguous tothe sole plate of the lower body so that the maximum heat of the elementis transmitted to the sole plate for iron- 5 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) 2 ing.In the elevated position of the element it is sufiieiently spaced fromthe sole plate to prevent the latter from scorching or burning anyfabric upon which it rests.

In the ilatiron of my aforesaid application, springs are located in thelower body for urging the upper body to elevated position so that manualpressure downward on the upper body is required to move it to a loweredposition. In my present latiron I again employ springs, but instead ofthem being within the lower body where they are subject to the intenseheat of the heating element, causing them soon to lose their tension, Ilocate the springs exteriorly of both bodies and remotely from theheating element as well as from the steam chamber of the upper body. Asa consequence, the springs are not subjected to the maximum heat ofeither the heating element or the steam within the chamber, and,therefore, their tension is preserved to successfully urge the upperbody to elevated position once it is relieved of downward pressure.

I will describe only one form of atiron embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of flatiron embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4, andshowing the upper body in lowered position within the lower body.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the upper body in elevatedposition in the lower body.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the atiron with a portion thereof brokenaway.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 ofFig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its presentembodiment comprises a lower body, designated generally at A, having theconventional triangular form of a iiatiron, and comprising a rim orframe l5 formed on two of its lower edges with a tongue It which iscoextensive in length therewith.

The frame I5 is spanned at its bottom by a shoe plate Il of triangularshape, and formed at its side edges with an upwardly extending ilange iSwhich is bent to form a groove or channel in which the tongue li isadapted to be received for securing the plate to the frame. Additionalsecuring means may be provided in the form of screws 23 extendingthrough the flange and into the tongue. This plate l1 is formed with amultiplicity of downwardly directed apertures 2l through which steam isadapted to be emitted as will be later described. The upper edge of theframe l5 is provided with a continuous lip 22, the function of whichwill be later described.

The atiron also includes an upper body designated generally at B, madein sections separable one from the other to facilitate assembly anddisassembly for purposes of cleaning and repair. It comprises a carryingsection 25 which is of triangular cupped form and of an area to befreely movable vertically in the frame I5 to occupy lowered and elevatedpositions, as will be later described herein.

This carrying section includes natriangular rim 26, spanned at its loweredge by a bottom wall 21 which is integral therewith. On the outer sideof this wall is a continuous lip 28 which is adapted to abut the lip 22when the carrying Y,section is in its uppermost position,thusdefiningthe elevated position of such section.

' Within the carrying section areA posts 29 'integral with the bottomwalll 21. and connected by rods 29a formed of electrical insulatingmaterial. About these ,rods is coiled an electrical heating element 3i)in the form of a at metal Strip connected at its ends to,wires 3|contained ina flexible cable 32 which is adapted for connection to asource of current.

A member 33 is fixed to and rises centrally from the bottom wall 21, andit is bored to provide a passage SII/which leadsdownwardly to aperforated disk '35 suitably secured in the lower end of' the member.Adjacent its upper end the member. is. formed exteriorlyA with'anannular collar 36.

Formed on vthe inner side of the rim 26 is a continuous lip 31 whichprovides a sup-port for a plate 38 of triangular form. This plate isprovided with an opening 39 `through lwhich the upper `endof the member33 extends. A tray 40 of triangular' form is supported on the plate ,38, and YIit is provided with a collared opening 4| through which theupper end/ofl the member 33 extends so thatthe passage 34 is placed incommunication with 'the interior ofthe tray. A gasket 42 .is interposedvbetween the tray and the collar .36 to form a steam-tghtjoint betweenthe .tray and .the member.

The upper body B alsoincludes a cover sectionV 43 Oftriangular form, andincluding a top wall 44 and a depending flange 45, through which screws46 `extend for securing the section to the rim 26 of the carryingsection. ,Suitable openings are provided in the cover section and theplate 38 through which the cable 32 may be extended from the heatingelement 30. The area of the cover section is such that the flange 45will abut the upperedge of the frame |5when the upper body is in'itslowermost position as shown in Fig. 2, so as to leave the wall 21slightly spacedv from the shoe plate I1 in order that steam may be freeto flow from the perforations inthe disk 35 and then outwardly of theapertures 2 I.

With the cover section secured on the Vcarrying section as abovedescribed, the wall 44 serves as a closure for the top of the tray 40 toform a steam receiving chamber S, the joint between the wall and theupper edge of the tray being sealed by a gasket 41. Steam is adapted tobe supplied to the chamber S from any suitable source such as a boilerlocated at some remote point and connected to the flatiron through aexiblepipe 48.

Asbest shown in Fig. 6, this pipe 48 is -connected with a nozzle 49carried by a'casing 50. This casing is mounted on the wall 44 by meansof a head 5I which is screw-threadedinto the wall. This head is formedintegral with the casing and the interior of the head provides a seat 52for a valve 53. The valve is carried by a stem 54 movable axially in thecasing and through a guideflange.- 55. The upper end of the stemprojects from thecasing for manual operation to open the valve againstthe tension of a spring 56 arranged about the stem and between theflange and a shoulder 51 on the stem.

When the valve is open steam from the pipe 48 can .pass downwardlythrough the casing 50 and into the chamber S to flow downwardly .throughthe passage 34 and outwardly through the sole plate, as will be morefully described hereinafter. To reduce the possibility of condensationof the steam in its passage to the chamber S, both the seat 52 and thevalve 53 Vare' made in steppedform as'illustrated. Such form gives themgreater surface area so that when the two become heated by the steam,condensation of the steam is reduced to a minimum.

The upper body B is urged to the elevated position shown in Fig.` 3 bythe provision of two or more springs 58 which are disposed exteriorly ofthe bodies A and B so that they are remotely disposed with respect tothe heating element 30 as well as the steam chamber S. Thus they are notsubject to the intense heat of I either and, as a consequence,'theirtension is preserved to urge the upper body to elevated position asintended.

The springs' '58 are mounted on rods 59, secured at their lower ends inthe bottom of cups 60 depending from ears 6I fixed to the outer sides ofthe frame I5. Sleeves 62 telescope withinthe cups 60 andv receive boththe rods and the springs. The upper endsof these sleeves are closed andextend through ears 63 formed on thecover sectionv 43, collars 64 being-xed on the'sleeves to limit movement of the Alatter upwardly throughthe ears.

When and as desired in the use'of the atiron, the upper body B isadaptedto be secured in its lowermost position and against the tensionof the springs 58 by means of a latch bar 65, pivoted on the top of thewall 44 by a screw 66. By means of a knob 61, the bar 65 can be rotatedso that its ends engage or disengage keepers r68 formed on the upperends of Vat'rodsl!! secured Vby screws 'I0 to the frame I5.

For the purpose of manipulating the atiron as well as to depress theupper body B toits lowermost position, a conventional handle 1| issecured atits endsin sockets 12 in the wall 44 by means of screws 13.

In the use of my flatiron, assuming that the cable 32 is connected toA asource of current, and thepipe 48 to a source of steam, downwardpressure on the stem 54 opens the valve 53 to supply steam to thechamber S where it collects and then flows through the passage 34, theperforated disk 35 and then outwardly through the apertures 2| andagainst the fabric being ironed. Due to the intimate associationof theheating element 30 Vwith thev chamber S and the passage 3,4, the heatemanating therefrom raises the temperature of the steam so that whendischarged through the sole plate it is superheatedto attain vthe rapidsteaming and pressing of a fabric and in such manner as to leavethefabricsubstantially devoid of moisture.

These results are better produced When,.the upper body B is depressed tothe lowered position shown in Fig. 2, since the superheated steamquickly reaches the sole plate, and the heating element is close to thefabric to assist in rapid drying of the fabric as it is being pressed.

Depressing and holding the body B in lowered position is easily effectedby pressing down on the handle 1l, and since the combined tension of thesprings 58 only slightly exceeds the weight of the body, only a lightdownward pressure is necessary to maintain it depressed. When the handleis relieved of downward pressure the springs force the body B upwardlyto the elevated position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the heating element 30is spaced sufficiently from the shoe plate I1 to eliminate all danger ofscorching or burning the fabric being ironed. This avoids the necessityof lifting the flatiron from the fabric and placing it on a standbetween ironing operations, and when the operator is not ironing henaturally releases the stem 54 to allow the valve 53 to close, thusdiscontinuing steam supply to the fiatiron.

If a prolonged ironing operation is to be performed the operator firstforces the upper body B to lowered position, and then actuates the latchbar 65 to engage the keepers 68, when the body will be maintained inlowered position.

The convenient position of the valve stem 54 in relation to the handle'H provides instant control of steam supply to the flatiron in steaminga fabric when and as required, and whether or not the heating element 30is contiguous to the shoe plate.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of flatironembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of myinvention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fiatiron including: a lower body having an apertured sole plate; anupper body having a steam receiving chamber therein, and a passageleading from the latter to the bottom ofthe lower body; an electricalheating element carried by the upper body; the lower body being hollowso as to receive the upper body in telescoping relation therewith tooccupy an elevated position in which it is suficiently spaced from thesole plate to prevent the heat radiated from said element from scorchingor burning the material being ironed, and a lowered position in whichsaid element is contiguous to the sole plate; and springs disposedexteriorly of both bodies and operatively associated therewith forurging the upper body to elevated position in the lower body andcoacting means on both bodies to determine the elevated position.

2. A fiatiron including: a lower body having an apertured sole plate; anupper body having a steam receiving chamber therein, and a passageleading from the latter to the bottom of the lower body; an electricalheating element carried by the upper body; the lower body being hollowso as to receive the upper body in telescoping relation therewith tooccupy an elevated position in which it is suiiiciently spaced from thesole plate to prevent the heat radiated from said element from scorchingor burning the material being ironed, and a lowered position in whichsaid element is contiguous to the sole plate; springs disposedexteriorly of both bodies and operatively associated therewith forurging the upper body to elevated position in the lower body; coactingmeans on both bodies to determine the elevated position and means forlatching the upper body in lowered position against the tension of thesprings.

3. A flatiron having a lower body including a sole plate with downwarddirected apertures therein; an upper body, the lower body being hollowso as to receive the upper body in telescoping relation therewith tooccupy lowered and elevated positions therein; a chamber in the upperbody; a flexible pipe communicating with the chamber for supplying steamtheretofrom a remote source; a passage within the upper body leadingfrom the chamber to and through the bottom thereof to discharge steaminto the lower body for nal discharge through said apertures; meansexteriorly of said bodies and operatively associated therewith forurging the upper body to an elevated position in the lower body; andcoacting members on said bodies for defining the elevated position ofthe upper body.

4. A fiatiron having a lower body including a sole plate with downwarddirected apertures therein; an upper body, the lower body being hollowso as to receive the upper body in telescoping relation therewith tooccupy lowered and elevated positions therein; a chamber in the upperbody; a fiexible pipe communicating with the chamber for supplying steamthereto from a remote source; a passage within the upper body leadingfrom the chamber to and through the bottom thereof to discharge steaminto the lower body for final discharge through said apertures; meansexteriorly of said bodies and operatively associated therewith forurging the upper body to an elevated position in the lower body; anelectrical heating element in the upper body below said chamber andabout said passage; and coacting members on said bodies for defining theelevated position of the upper body.

5. A flatiron including: a lower body which is hollow; an apertured soleplate; a connection between said plate and said body; an upper bodycomprising a carrying section of cup form telescopically fitted in thelower section to occupy lowered and elevated positions therein; atubular member xed to and rising from the bottom of said section, andproviding a passage downwardly through the section; a plate fittedwithin said section; an electrical heating element in said sectionbeneath said plate and around said member; a tray supported on saidplate and into which the upper end of said member extends; a coversection secured to the carrying section and closing the top of said trayto coact therewith in forming a chamber; a valve in the cover sectionfor controlling the supply of steam to the chamber from an exteriorsource; and means exteriorly on the lower body and the cover section forurging the carrying section to elevated position.

HARRY L. GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 553,813 McCadden Jan. 28, 1896964,043 Munson July 12, 1910 1,376,242 Ast Apr. 26, 1921 1,649,506Brewer Nov. 15, 1927 1,905,804 Clark Apr. 25, 1933 1,965,804 Reed July10, 1934 2,076,614 Bowman Apr. 13, 1937 2,161,009 Brave June 6, 19392,230,815 Sebo Feb. 4, 1941 2,434,136 Wolcott Jan. 6, 1948

